NYC Moves Ahead with Seaport City Planning

A levee protecting 1.5 miles of Lower Manhattan from the kind of damage caused by Hurricane Sandy is central to the plan.

Aug 05, 2013

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced a request for proposals to study the potential development of Seaport City, envisioned as a project to protect Lower Manhattan from coastal flooding and also provide opportunities for economic development. The concept includes a levee protecting a 1.5-mile area from the Battery to just north of the Manhattan Bridge. RFP responses are due to the New York City Economic Development Corporation by Aug. 22.

"Battery Park City helped shield part of Lower Manhattan during Hurricane Sandy, and Seaport City can provide similar protection, while also expanding opportunities for new economic development," the mayor said. "The resiliency plans we released last month continue to move forward, and this study will enable the city to evaluate an ambitious new idea for protecting vulnerable neighborhoods and making communities more vibrant."

"Today we are taking another important step forward towards realizing a critical piece of Mayor Bloomberg's plan to make the city less vulnerable to the effects of climate change," said Economic Development Corporation President Seth Pinsky. "Seaport City presents a landmark opportunity not only to protect Lower Manhattan's neighborhoods and infrastructure, but also to spur economic development and potentially to generate revenues to pay for this and other resiliency measures. We look forward to receiving the results of this important study."